Geokge kelly



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. KELLY.

FIRE ESCAPE. N0. 276,973. Patented May 1,1883.

ATTEST: INVENTQR:

(No Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

G. KELLY;

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 276,973. v Patented May 1,1883.-

AT TEST: INVENTDRI UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

eEoReE KELLY, OF CHICAGO, 1L'L1n01s, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO soorr CLARK, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,973, dated May 1, 1883.

' Applicationfiled September 22,1882. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE KELLY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident'of the city of Chicago, in the county of 5 Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fire- Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accom- 1o panying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification Myinvention relates to certain improve ments in that class of fire-escapes in which a flexible trough or tube is used for conveying :5 persons from the upper stories of buildings safely to the ground in case of fire; and my invention has for its objects, first, to provide better facilities for the handling and rendering such escapes more convenient and safe;

second, to provide means by whicha person can readily ascend the escape when required; and I attainthes e objects by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view, illustrating the application of myimprovementto a buildiug. Fig.2 is a detail plan view of same. Fig.

{3 1s a detail longitudinalsection of the flexible trough or tube, showing the flap or valve to permit the entrance of a person from the lower stories into the escape tube or trough. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an arrangement for reeling up the escape tube or trough when not required for use. Fig. 5 is a detail l view of the supporting eye-bars of the escape tube or trough.

Referring to the drawings,A represents the trough or tube, made of any suitablematerial, and secured to guy or bolt ropes B by 40 means of plain rings or eye-bars (J, as preferred. The rings or eye-bars G slide upon the guy-ropes B, so that they can be drawn together out of the way in such locations where it is permissible to make such guy or i 5 bolt ropes a permanent fixture. In such case the escape tube or trough, with its supporting eyes or rings, will be drawn or folded into a suitable housing secured to the wall of the building to protect them from the weather.

As thus arranged, myimprovemeut forms a very effective escape, for, as so arranged, it can extend across a street" from one building to another, either in a horizontal or inclined direction, as required or found most conven ient. I have illustrated in Fig. 1 the tube arranged in an inclined position in full lines, and in a horizontal position in dotted lines.

As shown in Fig. 5,1 form the eye-bars G in two parts, hinged together at the center, 0,

as shown, so as to permit them to assume a V-shaped position when inuse, and again resumea straight position when they are drawn. together. or rolled up.

In order to draw out the tube or trough A, I provide a halyard-line, D, which is attached to the free end of said trough or tube, and passes overa pulley-block, 01, attached to the building opposite, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. As a modification of this arrangement, an

endless halyard-rope, passing over pulley- 7::-

blocks attached to both buildings, maybe employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. a

E is a safetyline or lines, permanently attached to the building, and lying within the escape tubeor trough A,the purpose of which is to furnish means to the party making use of the escape to check or regulate his descent, as required, and also to furnish a party ascending the escape-tube means to assist him So in ascending. In such case the eye-bars O furnish a foothold for the party ascending.

The escape tube or trough Ais provided with openings F, through which access is gained to its interior from the difi'erent stories 8 5 of the building, such openings being closed by by a flap orvalve, f, as indicated in Fig. 3.

K is an alarm-bell operated by the rotation 'ofthe drum G, so as to give an alarm when an unauthorized attempt is made to make use of the escape.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fire-escape, the escape tube or trough A, arranged to extend across the street from one building to another, and supported on per- Signed at the city of'Ghicagojn the county manent bolt or guy ropes B, as described, and of Cook and State of Illinois, this 19th day of for the purpose set forth. September, 1882.

2. In afire-escape,the escape tube or trough GEORGE KELLY.

5 A, secured to guy-ropes B by means of eye- In presence of--- bars 0, that are hinged together at their cen- ROBERT BURNS, ter, as described, and for the purpose set forth. I CHAS. R. NELSON. 

